The bank or bench was the counter on which shopkeepers of yore displayed their goods. Street vendors used to mount on their bank to patter to the public. The French word is saltim banque; and the Italian word Cantambanco (i.e. canta in banco, one who patters from his bank).

There were temporary mountebanks as well as more regular merchants. In Attica, the names of Dolon and Susarion of Icaria are distinguished. In France, Tabaria, Tabarin, Turlupin, Gauthier-Garguille, Gros-Guillaume, Guillot-Gorju, Bobêhe, Galimaufré, and Gringalet (a marvellous number of Gs). In England, Andrew Borde, and some few others of inferior note.